Method for the facilitation of disposal of snow by compacting the snow into a dense block

ABSTRACT

Snow is dumped into a portable compressor which compresses the snow by hydraulic power through three stages into blocks of great density which require much less space than the original snow and can hence be carried away with greater economy, or piled up with less commandeering of usable space. Hydraulic strokes are controlled by limit switches. When sufficient density is achieved in the final stage, the hydraulic pressure trips a switch which opens a gate so that continued cycling of the compacting apparatus ejects a highly compacted block of snow. When far enough out, it trips a switch to cause the gate to close, shearing off the projecting block, and dropping the block onto a conveyor. The combination of a swinging guard and pusher plate jointly forming one wall of the hopper permits handling huge quantities of snow.

United States Patent 1 1 Newell [4 Oct. 1,1974

[ METHOD FOR THE FACILITATION OF DISPOSAL OF SNOW BY COMPACTING THE SNOW INTO A DENSE BLOCK [75] Inventor: Robert Keith Newell, Cedar Rapids,

Iowa

Related US. Application Data [60] Division of Ser, No. 204,533, Dec. 3, 1971, Pat. No. 3,765,321, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 829,229, June 2, 1969, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 100/39, 100/42 [51] Int. Cl B30b 7/04 [58] Field of Search 37/10; 100/45, 95, 98 R,

100/215, 218, 232, 237, 249, 256, 269 R, 246, 247, 251, 39, 42, DIG. 5, 250

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 657,607 9/1900 Luzatto IOU/DIG. 5 665,973 1/1901 Patterson l10/DIG. 5 1,890,802 12/1932 Apple l00/DIG. 5 2,332,170 10/1943 Sapp l00/DIG. 5 2,696,776 12/1954 McBean et al 100/249 2,705,916 4/1955 Millgard 100/D1G. 5 3,141,401 7/1964 Lindemann et a1. 100/249 3,149,428 9/1964 Hukill 37/10 3,323,444 6/1967 Mark et a1. [GO/DIG. 5 3,408,923 11/1968 Bushmeyer 100/D1G. 5

Primary ExaminerBilly J. Wilhite Attorney, Agent, or FirmBacon & Thomas 5 7] ABSTRACT Snow is dumped into a portable compressor which compresses the snow by hydraulic power through three stages into blocks of great density which require much less space than the original snow and can hence be carried away with greater economy, or piled up with less commandeering of usable space. Hydraulic strokes are controlled by limit switches. When sufficient density is achieved in the final stage, the hydraulic pressure trips a switch which opens a gate so that continued cycling of the compacting apparatus ejects a highly compacted block of snow. When far enough out, it trips a switch to cause the gate to close, shearing off the projecting block, and dropping the block onto a conveyor. The combination of a swinging guard and pusher plate jointly forming one wall of the hopper permits handling huge quantities of snow.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEU BET U saw u er s METHOD FOR THE FACILITATION OF DISPOSAL OF SNOW BY COMPACTING THE SNOW INTO A DENSE BLOCK This is a division of application Ser. No. 204,533 filed Dec. 3, 1971 which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 829,229 filed June 2, 1969 and now abandoned. Application Ser. No. 204,533 is now US. Pat. No. 3,765,321, which was issued Oct. 16, 1973.

The removal of heavy snows has long been an unsolved problem. The snow occupies so much space that, except for occasional small areas, actual removal of the snow from the area has not been considered economically practicable. Even when machines have been available for picking up the snow and dumping it in trucks, the number of trucks which would be required has usually made'the project prohibitive.

The present invention greatly aids in the solution of the problem, or extends the areas for which haulage is feasible, by greatly compacting the snow. There have been some prior suggestions, including patents, for compacting snow. However, so far as is known, the devices have not worked with sufficient satisfaction to be successful. A device according to the present invention has been built and tested and is now deemed ready for commercialization. The present disclosure is offered for public dissemination if patent protection is available.

More specific objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following description and from the drawings.

Designation of Figures FIG. 1 isa view showing mainly the discharge side of the experimental model of the invention, and showing a scoop dumping snow into it. p FIG. 2 shows, in perspective, a highly compacted snow block as discharged from the machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view looking down on the machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view looking at the side represented by the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, the end which is at the left in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram for the controls used in connection with the apparatus illustrated.

FIG. 6 is a hydraulic diagram for the illustrated apparatus.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The operation and construction of the apparatus chosen for illustration of this invention can be made clear by reference to FIGS. 1 and 4. Snow may be more or less continuously loaded into the machine as by scoop 11 of a front end loader or by a conveyor. Preferably the manner of gathering the snow somewhat compacts it. The snow is dumped into a portion 12 of the machine which may be considered a hopper although only the rear swinging wall 13 slopes inwardly and downwardly in a typical hopper fashion. A transversely extending rod 13a in the hopper l2 defines the pivotal axis about which the swinging wall 13 pivots. A feed plate, or first stage compression plate, 14, is actuated by cylinder 16 to move the snow to the right, simultaneously compacting it. At the right-hand end of the machine as seen in FIG. 1, cylinders 18 actuate tampers 19 to compress the snow further and press it down in front of ram 21, seen in FIG. 4. Ram 21 is operated by ram cylinder 22 which further compresses the snow and moves it beyond the area of tamping, and in fact against the gate 24. When the snow has been sufficiently compacted, as determined by the fluid pressure required to actuate the ram cylinder 22, gate 24 is opened by hydraulic cylinder 26, whereupon one or more further actuations of the ram 21 will begin ejection of the firmly compacted snow block. Ejection is accomplished by adding less compacted snow behind the compacted block. When the desired length of compacted block clears the path through which gate 24 will move, cylinder 26 moves gate 24 back to its closed position, shearing off the projecting portion. It drops to conveyor 27 (See FIG. 5) as a separate block 28. The forming of a new compacted block by ram 21 continues.

FIG. 2 shows a block 28 of compacted snow such as is discharged by this machine. Such blocks are pushed along the slideway 29 by succeeding cross bars 30 (FIG. 5) carried by chains and may be discharged into a truck or removed by hand or by pick-off apparatus.

HOPPER AND FIRST STAGE The details of the hopper and first stage of compression are perhaps seen best in FIGS. 1 and 3. The problem of moving huge quantities of snow without letting snow fall behind the moving member is solved by the combination of a swinging bridge or chute l3 and a pusher plate 14, both extending substantially the full width of the hopper 12; Jointly they form one wall of the hopper. The main purpose of bridge 13 is to keep snow from falling behind the pusher'plate 14 as it advances from a position near one outer extremity of the apparatus. Thus as the feed plate 14 moves to the right, it swings the bridge or swinging wall 13 upwardly, but the bridge continues to bridge bewteen its pivotal axis defined by shaft 13a and the pusher plate 14 so that snow cannot fall behind the pusher plate 14. With the pusher plate 14 nearly in its retracted position, as

shown fully in FIG. 1, snow will slide down the swinging wall 13 into the line of movement of the pusher plate 14. As the pusher plate 14 approachesits more advanced position, an upper fragment of it being shown near its final position in FIG. 1, any snow newly deposited in the hopper 12 will be mainly supported on top of swinging wall 13. When pusher plate 14 is retracted, wall 13 will swing back down and dump the snow into the path of the next movement of pusher plate 14.

So that the snow will all be pushed into the path of tampers 19, converging guide plates 33 are provided, as seen best in FIG. 3.

The means for actuating pusher plate 14 is best seen in FIG. 3. The pusher plate 14 is provided near the center of its height with extensions 32 extending through slots 33 (FIG. 1) in the opposite side walls 34 of hopper l2. Piston rods 36 of pistons 16 are pivoted to the extensions 32.

Tampers four sides of slideway 39 at its lower end, bearing on the outer faces of slide 38.

Each piston 43 of cylinders 18 is coupled to the base of slide 38 or to the plate 19. The cylinders 18 may either be secured at their upper ends, or may be secured at midpoints by cages 44 which provide room between them and the slideway 39 for receiving slide 38.

Last Stage Ram In a manner similar to that described for the tampers, ram 21 is carried by a slide, or is the front face of a ram body 46 which moves along a slideway or compression chamber 47. Slide pads 41 and 42 are again provided, at least along the bottom of slide 46. The cylinder 22 is in this instance pivoted at its rear end to yoke 48, since the few inches of extra length at this point are not as likely to make a difference as at the top where clearance is involved.

The retracted position of ram face 21, as shown in FIG. 4, is to the rear of the tampers 19. It is then moved forwardly entirely past the tampers 19 so that the snow in front of it can be entirely surrounded by a compression chamber 47 of fixed walls, except for the movable gate 24. The compression chamber 47 is made up of four sturdy plates welded along their edges to square tube construction, except that the upper plate is interrupted where the snow is pressed through it by tampers Hydraulic Circuit The present hydraulic circuit is quite evident from FIG. 6. For the most part, it needs no description. A flow divider valve 51 is provided for ensuring equal flow to the two cylinders 16 in their working stroke. Inasmuch as these operate at opposite ends of a single pressure plate 14 it is important that the pistons 36 stay nearly in step with one another.

Valves 52A, 52B, 52C and 52D are solenoidactu'ated reversing valves, the circuitry for the sole- I noids being shown in FIG. 5. They are spring-centered and in their central positions lock the cylinders and freely return pressure fluid to the reservior.

Ram cylinder 22 is supplied by two large pumps because this is a cylinder of large diameter and hence speed of movement depends on large pumping capacdensity of the snow which is desired.

Some-additional speed in the operation of pressure plate 14 is provided by connecting pump 56, which is needed primarily for gate operating cylinder 26, through valve 57 to the line supplying pressure to control valve'52A. In this instance the valve 57 is a flow divider valve which excludes the possibility that there might not be enough pressure in the fluid delivered to valve 52D to operate the gate with the speed desired.

Pressure switches 58 and 59 will be described in connection with the circuitry.

Circuit Diagram and Sequencing The circuitry is shown in FIG. and the cycling can thus be described with reference to that figure. We may start with the assumption that ram cylinder 22 is at an intermediate point in its retraction stroke, so that limit switch 61 is open and relay 62 is deenergized. Contact 62A now completes a circuit with three branches, 63, 64 and 65. Branch 63, assuming pressure switch 58 is ity. The large diameter is, of course, to develop the high closed, energizes solenoid 67 to operate reversing valve 528 in the direction for lowering tamper slides 38. Branch 64, assuming limit switch 68 to be closed, energizes solenoid 69 to actuate reversing valve 52A in a direction to cause return of pusher plate. As pusher plate 14reaches its fully retracted position, it opens limit switch 68, interrupting branch circuit 64 and allowing spring-centered valve 52A to return to neutral position.

Branch 65 energizes solenoid 71 to actuate valve 52C in the direction for operating ram cylinder 22 to retract its ram 21. .As the movement of ram 21 trips limit switch 61, this closes a circuit through contact 598 of pressure switch 59 to the coil of relay 62 to energize that relay. This opens contacts 62A to open the three branch circuits 63, 64 and 65, and closes contacts 62B and 62C. Contacts 62B closes a circuit with three branches, 63', 64' and 65' corresponding to branch circuits 63, 64 and 65, except for actuating movements in the opposite direction. Thus the solenoids 67', 69 and 71 are actuated to operate the respective valves in the opposite directions. Limit switch 68' opens branch circuit 64 to deenergize solenoid 69' as the pressure plate 14 reaches its more advanced position, which happens to be the retracted positions of the cylinders 16. Limit switches 68 and 68' are not essential, but if the operation of pusher plate 14 is faster than the operation of the other compactors, these limit switches will save power inasmuch as the valves 52A, B and C discharged to reservoir when in neutral position so that the oil flows at low pressure. At the same time, these valves lock their cylinders by cutting off flow to and from both ends of the cylinders.

As ram 21 leaves its retracted position, it allows limit switch 61 to open. However, relay 62 is maintained energized by a branch of its energizing circuit extending through limit switch 73 and holding contact 62C of relay 62. This holding branch is interrupted, however, as ram 21 reaches its extended position and opens limit switch 73. Thereupon relay 62 drops its contacts to the position shown in FIG. 5, and the cycle is repeated as first described herein. The initial movement of ram 21 allows limit switch 73 to close, but this no longer completes the circuit for energizing coil 62 because contact 62C has dropped to the open position.

While tampers 19 are in their compacting stroke, if the snow ahead of them has become sufficiently compacted that the hydraulic fluid operating the cylinders 18 reaches a predetermined maximum, such as 1,750 pounds per square inch, pressure switch 58 will be tripped, opening its contact 58A and allowing valve 528 to return to its spring-centered position. It is desirable to design the sizes of parts so as to try to keep ram 21 supplied with approximately the maximum snow it can handle each stroke even though there may not be perfect or maximum feeding of snow by the pusher l4 and the tampers 19, and the snow fall may have been fluffy. Accordingly, when there is relatively maximum feeding of heavy snow by these preliminary devices, (feeding about cubic feet of snow previously compacted by gathering) the snow may reach maximum compaction intended at this stage before tampers 19 reach their fully extended position. Allowing valve 528 to shift to its neutral position in this circumstance avoids waste of power when tampers 19 would not move much further anyway.

It is important that tampers 19 do not have to operate together. When ram 21 is half retracted, one tamper 19, having a clear space ahead of it, may move easily and take all of the pressure fluid so that it moves fast and pushes compacted snow in front of the ram. By the time the ram moves enough further back to clear the way for the other tamper, the first will have so compacted its snow that now the other will take all the oil and move fast enough to push or drop its compacted snow in front of ram 21 before ram 21 trips limit switch 61 and reverses both movements.

Pressure switch 59 has the important function of de termining when the snow block being compacted by ram 21 has reached the intended compactness so .that

it should be ejected; and opening the gate to permit the ejection. Thus when the hydraulic fluid pressure driving the ram 21 forwardly reaches the predetermined limit, which we still may assume to be 1,750 pounds per square inch, pressure switch 59 is tripped. the contact 59A of this pressure switch closes the circuit to relay 81 energizing the coil of this relay. The circuit through contact 59A is also carried through limit switch 73, so that if this required degree of pressure is only reached at the end of the stroke of ram 21 it will not actuate the relay 81, but will wait one more stroke by the ram 21.

Energization of relay 81 operates its contact 81A to close the circuit to solenoid 83 which actuates valve 52D to deliver fluid under pressure to cylinder 26 in the gate opening direction. At the same time, contact 818 closes a circuit through limit switch 84 acting as a hold ing circuit for maintaining relay 81 energized. The gate therefore is held open independently of limit switch 73 so that the compacting apparatus may continue to cycle. When ram 21 completes its stroke, it opens limit switch 73, reversing the three compacting devices. As ram 21 retracts, tampers 19 will be advancing, pressing more partially compacted snow in front of ram 21. When ram 21 reaches its fully retracted position and closes limit switch 61, the three compactors will again reverse. This time as ram 21 pushes the snow toward blocks 28 it will reach a point of compaction at which it moves the block 28 forwardly. Limit switch 84 is so located that when the desired length of block 28 projects beyond the gateway, limit switch 84 will be opened by action of the ice block 28. This breaks the holding circuit for relay 81, and the relay 81 will be deenergized (pressure switch contact 59A now being open because pressure does not reach the maximum while gate 24 is open). Deenergization of relay 81 closes its contact 81C to establish a circuit to solenoid 83 energizing valve 52D in the direction for closing gate 24. As gate 24 reaches its closed position it opens limit switch 86. 7

Depending on the position of limit switch 84, gate 24 will shear the block off either by cutting into either fully compacted snow or the partially compacted snow by which the block is being pressed forwardly, assuming this is firm enough to hold the block until the cutting action begins.

A limit switch could be provided to be actuated by gate 24 as it reaches its open position for allowing valve 52D to return to neutral. However, this is not necessary because the oil from pump will not be discharged wastefully at high pressure, since the flow divider 57 will allow most of it to flow to valve 52A to aid in operation of the pressure plate l4.

In FIG. 5 the limit switches are diagrammatically shown. For the most part their physical arrangements will be a matter of convenience. Those actually used in the test machine are shown in the drawings. In FIG. 3 limit switches 68 and 68 are shown to be mounted on the side of the hopper l2, and each is actuated by a dog 91 carried by one of the extensions 32. In FIG. 4 limit switch 61 is shown carried by the compression chamber 47, and actuated by the body of the ram 21 when retracted. Limit switch 73 is shown carried by a bracket on compression chamber 47 but actuated by a dog 92 on a rod 93 which reciprocates back and forth with the slide 46' which is the body of ram 21. The limit switch 86 is carried by the compression chamber 46, near the outlet and thereof, and is engaged by a dog 94 carried by gate 24.

Limit switch .84 is carried by a post 96 upstanding from slideway 29, and as previously mentioned is actuated by the ice blocks.

Each of the limit switches may be adjustable as to its location or may have an adjustment within itself as to its position of actuation. Actually, the circuit change in each occurs slightly before the time indicated so that the associated apparatus will reach the point indicated at the end of the reaction time. With ideal positioning, the control valve will be shifted to its neutral position just in time to aviod the shock or impact effect if any controlled part reached the physical limit of its movement before the valve shifted.

Conveyor illustrated. The severed snow block 28 drops a few inches onto a slide plate 29 along which transverse flights 30 are moved by a pair of chains each running around a pair of sprockets. The flights 30 reliably move.

the blocks of snow, and there is no place where snow can pack in a manner to stop operations. The sprockets continuously poke the chain free of snow. The only extensive surface on which snow can fall is plate 29 which is constantly swept clean by the flights 30.

Additional Features The entire apparatus can be mounted on a frame of which longitudinal beams 96 may be the basic portions. A suitable engine 97 and the various pumps may also be carried by this frame. The various solenoid valves are most conveniently located beneath the floor of hopper 12, this floor being approximately level with the top of the compression chamber 47.

The apparatus is low enough in cost and simple enough to operate so that many installations may be stationary. For example, a stationarily mounted apparatus of this invention might solve the problem for a large shopping center or factory parking lot.

It is important to pack the snow to a very great density, and this apparatus can achieve this. Calculations indicate a packing pressure achieved by ram 21 of over 200 pounds per square inch. Although this may be higher density than some would insist on, it would seem to be very poor use of the invention to let the final compression fall below 175 pounds per square inch.

The density mentioned has been achieved by this invention with efficient general operation, with he pusher plate developing approximately 9 pounds per square inch on the snow. It should be understood that 9 pounds per square inch is enough to do a great deal of compacting even though the snow has already been partially compacted in handling. The pounds per square inch developed by the tampers is believed to be at least about 35 pounds per square inch, but may vary, depending on whether the nature of the snow is such that it will squirt out from under the tampers.

Satisfactory speed of production of snow blocks of such high density as here contemplated is believed to require three stages of packing of the partially compressed snow dumped in the hopper. The necessity for this is more apparent when it is realized that the pusher plate has an area five times the total area of the tamper plates, and each feeding movement of the pusher plate displaces about 60 cubic feet. Hence packing this much snow into compression chamber expeditiously presents a problem. It is preferred to increase the dimension of the tampers seen in FIG. 2 to 2 feet to correspond to the width of the compression chamber 47, although the desirability of this is yet to be established by test, and

. the illustrated form (18 inches) works well.

For the most part, hydraulic experts will have no trouble choosing suitable hydraulic components. Vickers vane pumps have been found satisfactory (3525V38A2l ICC lOL for the twin pumps and V2lO l lW34Cl2 for the single pump). Valves used for valves 51 and 57 respectively have been 2V14-8-6-40 and 2F23-P4-4-4.

I claim:

1. A method for the facilitation of disposal of snow by compacting the snow into a dense block comprising:

a. depositing snow into a hopper;

b. moving the deposited snow into a confined area and compacting the snow therein against a closed gate to form a dense block;

3. A method as defined in claim 1 including tamping the deposited snow into the confined area.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 including conveying the portion of the dense block having been sheared off away from the point of ejection.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of opening the closed gate takes place after said compacting step.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of shearing off at least a portion of the dense block having been ejected is accomplished by closing of the gate- 7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the gate closes the confined area during said compacting step blocking the compacted snow from moving out of the confined area, and wherein the gate opens part of the confined area during said ejecting step effecting substantially unrestricted ejection of the dense block therefrom.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said confined area is an elongated chamber having two ends. the movable gate completely closing one end of the chamber during said compacting step, said gate thereafter being moved such that said one end is completely open during said ejecting step.

9.A method as defined in claim 8, wherein said chamber provides an unrestricted passageway between its ends, the densely compacted block thereby being ejected from the chamber without further restriction when the gate is open.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 838, 533 D t d October 1, 1974 Inventor() Robert Keith Newell It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 52, "33" should read --31--. V 7 Column 6, line 5, "69", second occurrence, should read --68'-.

Column 7, line 4, "he" should read -the-.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of May 1.975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks USCOMM-DC 5Os76-P69 u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1959 0-365-334.

FORM PO-105O (10-69) 

1. A method for the facilitation of disposal of snow by compacting the snow into a dense block comprising: a. depositing snow into a hopper; b. moving the deposited snow into a confined area and compacting the snow therein against a closed gate to form a dense block; c. opening the closed gate and thereafter ejecting the dense block from the confined area by packing less densely compacted snow behind the dense block; and d. shearing off at least a portion of the dense block having been ejected.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said step Of opening the gate prior to said ejecting step is initiated when a predetermined block density is achieved.
 3. A method as defined in claim 1 including tamping the deposited snow into the confined area.
 4. A method as defined in claim 1 including conveying the portion of the dense block having been sheared off away from the point of ejection.
 5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of opening the closed gate takes place after said compacting step.
 6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of shearing off at least a portion of the dense block having been ejected is accomplished by closing of the gate.
 7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the gate closes the confined area during said compacting step blocking the compacted snow from moving out of the confined area, and wherein the gate opens part of the confined area during said ejecting step effecting substantially unrestricted ejection of the dense block therefrom.
 8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said confined area is an elongated chamber having two ends, the movable gate completely closing one end of the chamber during said compacting step, said gate thereafter being moved such that said one end is completely open during said ejecting step.
 9. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein said chamber provides an unrestricted passageway between its ends, the densely compacted block thereby being ejected from the chamber without further restriction when the gate is open. 